Investigation Underway After Transmitter Tower Workers Fall 1,000 Feet To Their Death
Follow CBSMIAMI.COM: Facebook | Twitter
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – An investigation is underway after three workers fell 1,000 feet to their death while working on a transmitter tower, Miami Gardens officials said.
Chopper4 was over the scene in Miami Gardens as police and rescue personnel responded to the area off NW 207th St. and 5th Ave. around 4 p.m. Wednesday.
"I've been noticing the crane for a while," said Eric Garner who lives nearby. "They had the crane up there, the structure up there. It rained Monday so they couldn't get it done."
Garner says the workers were near the top of a structure he describes as a crane right next to the tower.
"I saw the guy on top of it. The chord was hanging down. I went in the house and I heard the noise. It sounded like the winds from the hurricane, the chord ripping. And then when I heard the 'boom' I saw the debris fly up in the air," said Garner.
According to the city of Miami Gardens, the structure next to the tower, which stands about 1,000 feet high, collapsed.
"I called 911. You know that's all about I could do, pray for the guys, you know what I mean, the families," said Garner.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue responded to the scene, but the workers were pronounced dead. They had been working on a tower that transmits the signals for Channel 10 and Channel 7.
Channel 7 released a statement that read, "We are saddened by this tragic event. Our deepest sympathies go out to the families of the three men who died. They worked for a company hired by Channel 7 to perform work on the tower that was required by the FCC."
The bodies of three workers have been removed from the scene of the incident. The names of the workers have not been released. The investigation continues.
Stay with CBSMiami.com for updates on this developing story.
